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I am renting to family members is this still considered to be a business? Do I have to get a business license?

Renting to family members is considered to be a business and a license is required. If you are renting only to immediate family members and the amount you receive is not more than the “cost of said premises” you may qualify for a “fee-exempt” license. To see if you qualify, download a Family Member Rental...

How is the Residential Rental Business license tax assessed?

The business license tax for the rental of residential real estate is assessed per property, based on the ownership of the property. A separate business license is required for each separate rental property location. The business license tax assessment is made on a per unit basis and reflects the maximum number of rentable units making...

What does Santa Ana consider a “Residential Rental Business”?

Municipal Code Section 21-3 defines the business of rental of residential real estate as including every person who engages in the business of leasing, renting, subleasing, subletting, providing, exchanging or trading without loss of ownership or leasehold any residential property within the City for purposes of general residency.

My business entity (corporation, LLC, partnership, LP, etc.) is dormant/passive and it is just paying a minimum tax to the Secretary of State. Is it required to get a business license?

Yes. If your business is registered as “active” with the Secretary of State and is reporting on a business return to the FTB and IRS, it will need a business license. Maintaining a business entity within the City, whether it is transacting public business or not, is considered operating a business under the municipal code...

I live in Santa Ana, but my business is located outside of the city limits. Do I need to get a business license?

As long as your business location and all business activity are conducted outside the City of Santa Ana, there is no need to obtain a City of Santa Ana Business License. However, if you are conducting business based from your residence, or your residence is your business location, you will need to obtain a City...

I am an independent operator performing services in association with a licensed Santa Ana business, or nonprofit organization or government agency. Do I have to get a separate business license?

Yes, engaging in business in association with, or performing services for, or in the name of a licensed Santa Ana business or nonprofit organization, or government agency does not relive separate business entities, independent contractors, consultants or other self-employed individuals from the requirement to obtain a City of Santa Ana Business License.

I do part-time consulting/independent contractor work from my home. Do I have to get a business license?

Yes, businesses both large and small are required to obtain a Santa Ana Business License to be in compliance with the Santa Ana Municipal Code. If the consulting work or other independent contractor work is done from a location within the City limits, such as your residence, you are required to obtain a City of...

I received a 1099 form instead of a W-2 from my work. Am I required to have a business license?

Yes, individuals that work as an independent contractor and are reported on a 1099 Form instead of a W-2 need to have a City of Santa Ana Business License.

Am I doing “business”? What does Santa Ana consider a "business" and why may the city think I am operating one?

Santa Ana Municipal Code Section 21-3 defines business as including “all activities engaged in or caused to be engaged in within the city, including any commercial or industrial enterprise, trade, profession, occupation, vocation, calling, or livelihood, including rental of residential or commercial real estate, and every other kind of activity whether or not carried on...

May I register to do business from a post office box or private postal mailbox (PBM) located within the city of Santa Ana?

A post office box or private postal mailbox (PMB) address may be used as the mailing address of record for receiving information regarding a Santa Ana business license; however, a post office box or PMB address does not constitute a business location for business licensing purposes. A post office box or PMB address cannot be...

Do I need a business license if I operate a commercial or home-based business specifically exempted by state or federal law?

No business license or other administrative fee is required for the operation of a commercial or home-based business specifically exempted by State or Federal Law. Supporting qualifying information of your business as specifically exempted must be furnished. A "Fee-Exempt" business license shall be issued to qualifying exempted businesses.

Do I need a business license if I operate a commercial or home-based nonprofit business, organization, or institution?

If you operate a commercial or home-based nonprofit business, organization, or institution, you are required to secure a "Non-Profit" business license. Information supporting qualification of your business as a "non-profit" must be furnished. No business license fee (other than an administrative application processing charge) shall be applied with respect to any bona fide nonprofit business.

Do I need a business license if I rent a single family residence or other undivided single residential premise(s) to one or more family members?

No business license or other administrative fee is required for the rental of a single-family residence or other undivided single residential rental premises as between an owner (or leaseholder) and any immediate relative related by blood, adoption or marriage where the rents received do not exceed the cost of maintaining legal ownership of the premises....

Do I need a business license if I become a landlord receiving rents from the rental, leasing, subleasing or subletting of commercial or residential property located in the city of Santa Ana?

If you become a landlord and rent, lease, sublease or sublet commercial or residential property within the City, you are required to secure a separate business license for each individual rental property.

Do I need a business license if I wish to operate a home-based business located in the city of Santa Ana?

If you operate a business from a residential premise within the City of Santa Ana you are required to secure a business license. Prior to the issuance of a business license, businesses operating from residential premises within the City, are required to obtain a Home Occupation Permit and comply with any and all applicable provisions...

Do I need a business license if I wish to operate a commercially-based business located in the city of Santa Ana?

If you operate a business from a commercial premise within the City of Santa Ana you are required to secure a business license. Every business, including temporary or itinerant businesses, operating from commercial premises within the City is required to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy for their commercial location and comply with any and all...

May I register to do business from a post office box or private postal mailbox (PMB) located within the city of Santa Ana?

A post office box or private postal mailbox (PMB) address may be used as the mailing address of record for receiving information regarding a Santa Ana business license; however, a post office box or PMB address does not constitute a business location for business licensing purposes. A post office box or PMB address cannot be...

Do I need a business license from the city of Santa Ana if I am located in the unincorporated area of Orange County?

If your business is in the unincorporated area of Orange County, the licensing agency is the Orange County Sheriff Office, located at 550 N. Flower Street, in Santa Ana. For information please contact their office at (714) 647-7000 and ask for business licensing.

Do I need a business license if my business does not do business in the city of Santa Ana, but may perform deliveries or certain other limited activities in the city with connection to a business located outside of the city?

A business license is not required for any business done in the City of Santa Ana where the business conducted is only occasional and incidental to a regularly established business conducted elsewhere. Nevertheless, a City of Santa Ana business license will be required if more than (3) pick-ups or deliveries of goods, merchandise, or business...

Do I need a business license if I am an out of city business doing business in the city of Santa Ana?

If you are an Out-of-City business doing business in the City of Santa Ana, you must obtain your own separate business license. Except where otherwise provided under state law, Out-of-City businesses are exempt from the minimum (or basic) City of Santa Ana business license assessment. Out-of-City businesses are assessed only based on the volume of...

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